Federal investigators have joined Massachusetts officials in closely scrutinizing a bid by Partners HealthCare System to acquire South Shore Hospital, one of a growing number of inquiries by regulators concerned that rapid consolidation among US hospitals could drive up health costs.
Investigators from the US Department of Justice and Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley’s office recently spoke with top-level staff from at least three hospital systems that compete with Partners and one health plan, said several people in the health care industry with knowledge of the inquiry.
Comments
This is a great example of our bizarre health care policies. The government says providers should form integrated networks so they can be placed on a budget and receive captiated payments. But they can’t form integrated networks because they might become too big.
Hospital systems like Partners should be prevented from becoming too big. But it is OK for a Wall Street hedge fund to buy as many hospitals and physician practices as they want along with converting them to for profit.
Will there be job losses that accompany this merger? That impact should also be examined, as the proposed "consolidation" is examined.